Golf Putter Apparatus With Floating Face Weighted Head

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a novel golf putter having a novel head, which is made up of a strike plate, a body, and at least one connecting element. The connecting element is positioned with a spacing element so that the strike plate does not make direct contact with the body when the putter is used to strike a golf ball. As such, during the striking of the golf ball with the strike plate of the novel putter, kinetic energy is transferred from the strike plate to the body via the connecting element and the spacing element, and the energy is transferred in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane of the face of the strike plate.

PRIORITY STATEMENT

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/212,056, filed Apr. 6, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to golf clubs, and in particular, this inventionrelates to golf putters having a floating face weighted head configuredsuch that when a golf ball is struck with a golf putter, the strike faceof the putter makes contact with a golf ball, kinetic energy istransferred in a perpendicular or substantially perpendicular directionto the plane of the strike plate thereby improving the dynamic responseof the putting action to the golfer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Golf is a game played by tens of millions of people across the globe. Inthe game of golf, golfers attempt to hit a golf ball into a predefinedhole by striking the golf ball with a club. The object of the game is toget the golf ball into the hole with as few strikes of the golfer'sclubs as possible.

A golfer is putting when attempting to strike the golf ball from a spoton the green into the hole. The surface of the green is usually made upof grass that has been cut short, and which is sloped at differentgradients at different points on the green. The surface of the greenaffects the number of putts because the golf ball will generally notleave the surface as it travels across the green. Not only does the golfball follow the contours of the green but the speed and distancetraveled by the golf ball are affected by the compression and moisturecontent of the turf. In a typical game of golf, more than half of theshots that a golfer makes may be putts, making the golfer's puttingaccuracy extremely important.

Players use a special club called a putter when putting on the green.The putter is made up of a shaft, a head and a hosel. The hosel is wherethe shaft and head meet. When the putter makes contact with the golfball, energy is transferred into the putter, which provides valuablefeedback to the golfer. An improved feedback response to the golferduring a putting attempt provides a golfer better control over theputting action and an improved putting game. Although there are knownputters that attempt to improve the putting game by utilizing thisenergy, these putters fail to channel the energy into the club in asingle direction, i.e., perpendicular or substantially perpendicular tothe face of the putter. By channeling the energy in that single plane,the dynamic response of the club can be better controlled and thesubjective perception of the putting process as experienced by thegolfer can be improved. The experience can be further improved if theclub can be customized for the conditions of the course and thepreferences of the golfer.

For all the above reasons, there is a need for a customizable putterthat transfers energy from the face of the putter along a direction thatis perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane of the faceof the putter. The present invention satisfies this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a novel golf putter comprising anovel head. The head is comprised of a strike plate, body, and at leastone connecting element. When the putter is used to strike a golf ball,kinetic energy is transferred from the strike plate to the body via theconnecting element. This energy is transferred in a directionperpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane of the face ofthe strike plate, regardless of the direction of the striking force.

The strike plate is comprised of a front face and a back face. The frontface of the strike plate is used to make contact with the golf ball. Theback face of the strike plate is coupled to a protrusion or boss. Thefront face of the strike plate can be located on either side of theputter to accommodate either a right-handed or left-handed golfer.

The body connects the head to a shaft. The body is configured to receivethe strike plate and protrusion without creating direct contact betweenthe body and the combined strike plate and protrusion.

One or more fasteners, or connecting and spacing elements, couple thestrike plate to the body. In the preferred embodiment, the strike plateis coupled to the body in manner such that the strike plate does notmake direct physical contact with the body. This configuration may beachieved by using a connecting element comprised of a screw and aspacing element comprised of an O-ring.

The connecting element is configured to allow the strike plate to floatback towards the body in a direction parallel or substantially parallelto the connecting element and perpendicular or substantiallyperpendicular to the face of the strike plate.

The spacing element is placed between the strike plate and the body. Thespacing element maintains the physical disconnect between the strikeplate and the body. When the strike plate moves back as a result ofstriking the golf ball, kinetic energy from the movement of the strikeplate is first transferred from the strike plate to the spacing elementand then subsequently transferred from the spacing element to the body.This transfer of energy through the spacing element modifies the dynamicresponse of the club as a whole and improves the subjective perceptionof the putting process as experienced by the golfer. By using differentmaterials and different amounts of material for the spacing element, thedynamic response of the club can be varied for the conditions and forthe preferences of the golfer. The dynamic response of the club as awhole may be further varied by adjusting the amount of pressure placedon the spacing element.

In an alternative embodiment, a front face of the strike plate islocated on both sides of the body allowing for a single putter to beused by both a right-handed and left-handed golfer.

An object of the present invention is to improve the dynamic response ofthe club as a whole and to improve the putting process as experienced bythe golfer. This object is achieved by the directional transfer ofenergy through the connecting element.

Another object of the present invention is to allow the dynamic responseof the club to be varied for the conditions of the golf course and thepreferences of the golfer, and to allow customization of the club byallowing the weight of the head to be varied and the strike plate of theclub to be changed.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with regards to the followingdescription, and the accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the putter apparatus in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the putter apparatus in accordancewith the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the putter apparatus in accordance withthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the front and back of the novel golf putter 10 inaccordance with the present invention. The novel golf putter 10comprises a novel head 12, which is made up of a strike plate 14 and abody 16. A hosel 18 connects the head 12 to the shaft 20. The strikeplate 14 is connected to the body 16 with at least one connectingelement 22. Between the strike plate 14 and the body 16 is at least onespacing element 24 (shown in FIG. 3).

When the putter 10 is used to strike a golf ball (not shown), kineticenergy is transferred from the strike plate 14 to the body 16 via theone or more connecting elements 22 and the one or more spacing elements24. This energy is transferred in a direction perpendicular orsubstantially perpendicular to the face of the strike plate 14.

The use of fasteners, such as the one or more connecting elements 22 andthe one or more spacing elements 24, limits the energy transfer to thedirection that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to theface 26 of the strike plate 14. The direction of the energy transfer inthe perpendicular or substantially perpendicular direction through theone or more connecting elements 22 and the one or more spacing elements24, brings about an improvement to the dynamic response of the club 10as a whole, and improves the putting response and process as experiencedby the golfer.

Utilizing different connecting elements 22 and spacing elements 24 allowfor the dynamic response of the club 10 to be varied for the conditionsof the golf course and the preferences of the golfer. Further,customization of the club 10 can be achieved by allowing the weight ofthe head 12 to be varied and the strike plate 14 of the club 10 to bechanged.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention achieves all theseobjects, other embodiments may omit or include certain objects withoutdeparting from the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows the head 12 of the novel putter 10 in exploded form. Thestrike plate 14 is comprised of a front face 26 and a back face 28. Inthe preferred embodiment, the strike plate 14 is substantiallyrectangular in shape and the front face 26 and back face 28 aresubstantially parallel to each other. In other embodiments, the strikeplate 14 can take any shape appropriate for striking a golf ball. In thepreferred embodiment the strike plate 14 is made of steel, however, thestrike plate 14 may be made of aluminum, titanium, wood, or any othermaterial normally used for putter faces without departing from thepresent invention.

The front face 26 of the strike plate 14 is used to make contact withthe golf ball. The front face 26 may be smooth or textured. If the frontface 26 of the strike plate 14 is textured, the texture may be achievedby a variety of means. These means include but are not be limited to,cutting, etching, molding, or utilizing the materials naturalproperties.

The back face 28 of the strike plate 14 is coupled to a protrusion orboss 30. The protrusion 30 can be formed of the same material as thestrike plate 14 or can be formed using a different material. Materialsthat could be used for the protrusion 30 include but should not belimited to steel, aluminum, titanium, wood, or any other material thatis used to make a putter body.

Both the strike plate 14 and protrusion 30 may be switched outseparately or together for a strike plate 14 and protrusion 30 of adifferent design or weight. This ability allows the golfer to furthercustomize the putter club for the conditions and his or her ownpreferences.

The hosel 18 connects the head 12 to a shaft 20. In the preferredembodiment the body 16 is shaped so that it can receive the strike plate14 and protrusion 30. The body 16 has a cavity for this purpose. Thebody 16 and cavity are of sufficient size to allow the strike plate 14and protrusion 30 to be received into the body 16 without making directphysical contact with the body 16.

The strike plate 14 is connected to the body 16 using one or morefasteners. The fasteners are made up of connecting element 22 andspacing element 24, providing for the strike plate 14 to be attached tothe body 16 in a floating manner. It is this floating aspect of thepresent invention that provides the dynamic response to the golfer.Depending on the design of the body 16, the cavity may pass through thebody 16, whereby the protrusion 30 shows on the back end. However, thecavity may be only partial in which the protrusion 30 of the strikeplate 14 will not be visible when the golf putter 10 is assembled.Materials that could be used for the body 16 are similar to those usedfor the protrusion.

The connecting element 22 passes through the strike plate 14 and isanchored to the body 16. The strike plate 14 is allowed to float on theconnecting element 22, so that, when the strike plate 16 strikes thegolf ball, the strike plate 16 moves back in a direction parallel orsubstantially parallel to the direction of the connecting element 22 andperpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane of the frontface 26 of the strike plate 14.

Alternatively, the connecting element 22 can be anchored to the strikeplate 14 and the strike plate 14 can float at the point which itattaches to the body 16. In this alternative embodiment, when the strikeplate 14 strikes the golf ball, the strike plate 14 moves back in adirection parallel or substantially parallel to the connecting element22 and perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane of thefront face 26 of the strike plate 14.

The spacing element 24 is placed between the strike plate 14 and thebody 16. The spacing element 24 maintains the physical disconnectbetween the strike plate 14 and the body 16. When the strike plate 14moves back in a perpendicular or substantially perpendicular directionto the face of the strike plate 14 as a result of striking the golfball, the physical disconnect between the strike plate 14 and the body16 is maintained.

Kinetic energy from the movement of the strike plate 14 is firsttransferred from the strike plate 14 to the spacing element 24 and thensubsequently transferred from the spacing element 24 to the body 16.This transfer of energy through the spacing element 24 modifies thedynamic response of the club as a whole and improves the subjectiveperception of the putting process as experience by the golfer.

The spacing element 24 may be a toroidal or cylindrical elastomericmember such as an O-ring. Suitable elastomeric materials include but arenot limited to rubber, plastic, etc. as known by one having ordinaryskill in the art. Alternative embodiments may utilize a spring or othermaterial to separate the strike plate 14 and body 16 and to modify thedynamic response of the club.

By using different materials and different amounts of material for thespacing element 24 the dynamic response of the club can be varied forthe conditions and for the preferences of the golfer. In the preferredembodiment, the spacing element 24 is made up of four O-rings that aresize −005, having an inner diameter of 3/32 of an inch and an outerdiameter of 7/32 of an inch and a width of 1/16 of an inch. The O-ringmaterial in the preferred embodiment is a Fluorocarbon elastomer orFluoroelastomers, such as those manufactured by Viton®, however, lessexpensive elastomers such as Nitrile or Buna N or Silicone can be used.Further, other materials as understood by one having ordinary skill inthe art, can be used to obtain the same resultant dynamic response.

The dynamic response of the novel golf putter 10 as a whole may befurther varied by adjusting the amount of pressure placed on spacingelement 24. This variation in pressure can be achieved by replacing thespacing element 24 with other sized spacing elements 24 therebyincreasing or decreasing the size of the spacing element 22 andincreasing or decreasing the distance between the strike plate 14 andthe body 16.

In the preferred embodiment, the connecting element 22 is a screw thatcan be tightened or loosened depending on the feel or preference of thegolfer. However, any adjustable fastener can be utilized. Further, thescrew can be screwed into a countersink or counterbore in the strikeplate 14.

An alternative embodiment combines the connecting element 22 and spacingelement 24 into a single member (not shown). This single member would bean element that can be compressed along a single axis. This singlemember could be but is not limited to an air or hydraulic shock orpiston, or a material that will compress along a single axis.

An alternative embodiment is a design or configuration that containsstrike faces 14 on both sides of the body 16 so that the same putter maybe used by both right-handed and left-handed golfers. In this case, thecavity extends completely through the body 16 and the protrusion 30 hastwo strike faces 14 mounted on opposite sides of the protrusion 30. Oneor more sets of connecting elements 22 and spacing elements 24 are thenused to produce a similar dynamic response when used by either a rightor a left handed golfer. As with other embodiments, the strike faces 14and protrusion 30 do not make direct contact with the body 16 when thestrike face 14 strikes the golf ball.

The foregoing invention is illustrative only of the principles of theinvention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occurto those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the scope of thedescription and claims, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

1. A novel golf putter for improving the dynamic response sensed by agolfer when putting a golf ball, comprising: a golf club shaft, a hoseland a golf club head, said golf club head being connected to said golfclub shaft at each end of said hosel; said golf club head comprising afirst strike plate and a body, said body having a cavity; said firststrike plate containing a first strike face and a protrusion, said firststrike face and said protrusion being located at opposite ends of thefirst strike plate; said first strike plate being connected to said bodyby a first set of at least one fastener such that said protrusion onsaid first strike plate extends into said cavity in the body, and saidfirst strike plate does not make direct contact with said body, suchthat when said first strike face makes contact with said golf ball, theenergy transmitted to the first strike plate will be in the directionsubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the first strike face. 2.The novel golf putter in claim 1, wherein said each of said first set ofat least one fastener comprises a connecting element and a spacingelement.
 3. The novel golf putter in claim 2, wherein said connectingelement is a screw.
 4. The novel golf putter in claim 2, wherein saidspacing element is an O-ring.
 5. The novel golf putter in claim 1,wherein said cavity in said body runs completely from one end of thebody to the other end of the body and said protrusion can be viewed fromthe side opposite the first strike plate on the golf putter.
 6. Thenovel golf putter in claim 1, further comprising a second strike face, asecond strike plate, and a second set of at least one fastener, saidsecond strike plate and second strike face being located at the end ofthe body opposite the first strike plate and the first strike face, saidsecond strike plate being connected to said body by said second set ofat least one fastener, such that said second strike plate extends intosaid cavity in the body, and said second strike plate does not makedirect contact with said body, such that when said second strike facemakes contact with said golf ball, the energy transmitted to the secondstrike plate will be in the direction substantially perpendicular to theplane of the second strike face, such that the novel golf putter may beused by both right-handed and left-handed golfers.
 7. The novel golfputter in claim 1, wherein said cavity in said body does not run fromone end of the body to the other end of the body and said protrusion iscompletely enclosed inside the body and cannot be viewed from outsidethe body.
 8. The novel golf putter in claim 1, wherein when said firststrike face makes contact with said golf ball, the energy transmitted tothe first strike plate will be in the direction perpendicular to theplane of the first strike face.
 9. The novel golf putter in claim 6,wherein when said second strike face makes contact with said golf ball,the energy transmitted to the second strike plate will be in thedirection perpendicular to the plane of the second strike face.